Papaver plant named ‘Pink Ruffles’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Papaver plant named ‘Pink Ruffles’, characterized by its upright and compact plant habit; dark green leaves; vigorous growth habit; freely flowering habit; and pink petals with fringed margins.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Papaverplant, botanically known as Papaver orientale L., commercially referredto as Oriental Poppy, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar namePink Ruffles.

The new Papaver is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Rypwetering, The Netherlands. The new Papaver originatedfrom a self-pollination made by the Inventor of the Papaver cultivarGarden Glory, not patented. The new Papaver was selected by the Inventorin 1996 from the resultant progeny on the basis of its compact plantsize, floriferousness and vigor.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings taken atRypwetering, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Papaver are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Pink Ruffles have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,daylength, and fertility level without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Pink Ruffles’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Pink Ruffles’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Upright and compact plant habit.

2. Dark green leaves.

3. Vigorous growth habit.

4. Freely flowering habit.

5. Pink petals with fringed margins.

Plants of the cultivar Pink Ruffles differ from plants of the parentcultivar, Garden Glory in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Papaver are more compact and shorter than plants ofthe cultivar Garden Glory.

2. Plants of the new Papaver have darker green and glossier leaves thanplants of the cultivar Garden Glory.

3. Plants of the new Papaver are more vigorous than plants of thecultivar Garden Glory.

4. Plants of the new Papaver are more freely flowering than plants ofthe cultivar Garden Glory.

5. Petals of the new Papaver have fringed margins whereas petals of thecultivar Garden Glory have entire margins.

Plants of the cultivar Pink Ruffles can be compared to plant of thecultivar Kleine Tanzerin. Plants of the cultivar Pink Ruffles differfrom plants of the cultivar, Kleine Tanzerin in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new Papaver are sturdier than plants of the cultivarKleine Tanzerin.

2. Petals of plants of the new Papaver are more intense pink in colorthan petals of the cultivar Kleine Tanzerin.

3. Petals of the new Papaver have fringed margins whereas petals of thecultivar Kleine Tanzerin have entire margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Papaver.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet comprises a sideperspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Pink Ruffles’ grown ina container that were about 25 weeks old.

The photograph at the bottom of the first sheet is a close-up view of atypical leaf of ‘Pink Ruffles’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical flower buds and open flower of ‘Pink Ruffles’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Pink Ruffles’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants grown in containerswere used for the following description. Plants were grown under fieldconditions which closely approximate commercial production conditionsduring the spring and summer in Rypwetering, The Netherlands and wereabout 25 weeks old.

Botanical classification: Papaver orientale l. cultivar Pink Ruffles.

Parentage: Self-pollination of Papaver orientale l . cultivar GardenGlory, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting: Cuttings.

Time to develop roots.—Cuttings harvested in October develop roots inMarch in the Northern Hemisphere.

Root description.—Fleshy.

Plant description:

Form.—Robust hispid perennial flowering plant; mostly upright andsomewhat outwardly arching; triangular. Basally branching, rosette,flowering stems arise from the base. Appropriate for 2-liter containers.

Crop time.—About 25 weeks are required to produce finished floweringplants in 2-liter containers.

Plant height.—About 55 cm.

Plant diameter.—About 60 cm.

Vigor.—Vigorous.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, generally symmetrical and longpersisting. Arrangement: Alternate. Shape: Lanceolate, pinnately anddeeply dissected. Length: About 32 cm. Width: About 8 cm. Leaf segmentshape: Narrowly oblanceolate. Leaf segment apex: Acuminate to acute.Leaf segment base: Acuminate to cuneate. Leaf segment margin: Biserrate.Texture: Slightly rugose; both surfaces covered with pale gray togreenish white hairs, about 2 mm in length. Color: Young foliage, uppersurface: 137A. Young foliage, lower surface: 138B. Mature foliage, uppersurface: 137A; veins, 139C. Mature foliage, lower surface: 138B; veins,139C.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Large-sized single flowers; flowers face outwardto upright. Flowers not persistent. Freely flowering; typically aboutseven flowers and flower buds per plant at one time.

Natural flowering season.—Late spring.

Fragrance.—None detected.

Flower longevity on the plant.—About three to five days.

Flower size.—Diameter: About 15 cm. Depth (height): About 6 cm.

Flower buds (before showing color).—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter:About 2.3 cm. Shape: Oblong. Aspect: Nodding. Texture: Pubescent,covered with pale gray to greenish white hairs about 2 mm in length.Color: 141C to 141D. Rate of opening: About four weeks from visible budto open flower.

Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: About seven petals forming a cup-shapedcorolla. Petal length: About 6 cm. Petal width: About 6 cm. Petal shape:Deltoid to somewhat orbicular. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin: Deeplyincised; fringed appearance. Petal texture: Smooth, satiny. Color:Petal, upper surface, when opening: 39B; base, 50A. Petal, lowersurface, when opening: 39B; base, 46A. Petal, upper surface, fullyopened: 39B; base, 50A. Petal, lower surface, fully opened: 39B; base,50A.

Calyx.—Sepal arrangement: Three, irregulary spaced. Calyx length: About8 cm. Calyx width: About 8 cm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:Acuminate. Margin: Deeply incised. Texture: Slightly rugose. Color:Upper surface: 192A to 193C; margins, 135A to 137A. Lower surface: 138Bto 145C; margins, 137A to 138A.

Peduncles.—Length: About 55 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Strength: Good,supports weight of flower. Texture: Densely covered with pale gray toalmost white hairs, about 3 mm in length. Color: 141C to 141D.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Numerous, typically more than200. Anther shape: Basifixed. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther color:202A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pistils: Quantity: One. Pistil length:About 1.5 cm. Stigma color: 200A to 200B.

Seed description.—Length: About 0.8 mm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm. Color:Dull, dark bluish gray.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Papaver have been noted to beresistant to pathogens common to Papaver.

Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Papaver are tolerant to rain andwind.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Papaver plant named‘Pink Ruffles’, as illustrated and described.